Improvement in brooms



I THOMAS R. EVANS. I

FFIGE.

PATENT THOMAS R. EVANS, OF BLAOKSBURG, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN BROOMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 121,501, dated December 5, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TnonAs R. EVANS, of Blacksburg, in the county of Montgomery and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Broom; and-I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a broom constructed in accordance with my invention, part of the head being broken away to show the interior. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the broomhead with the corn or straw removed.

Similar letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawing.

My invention has for its object to provide for public use an improved broom, which shall be more simple and economical in construction and possess greater durability, combined with lightness and symmetry of proportion, than those heretofore manufactured. To this end the invention consists in the construction of the broomhead, and in the method of applying the corn or straw thereto, as I will now proceed todescribe.

In the accompanying drawing, A is the broomhead, composed of sheet metal, preferably tin, and made in the form of a case, as shown. The lower end of the case is open to receive the corn and from this opening the thickness of the case gradually increases to the top, where it receives the socket B for the handle. The inner end of the socket passes through the top of the case, and is soldered to a transverse plate, (3, within the head. By this construction additional strength is imparted to the socket, so that it is not liable to be torn from the head when the broom is in use. D D are metal bands or wires'passin g around the brush E, some distance from the head, to which they are attached by the inclined arms F secured to the latter. Instead of riveting or gluing the corn within the head thus constructed it is inserted, one piece or bunch at a time, between the bands D, and then forced into the head until it bears firmly against the transverse plate 0, as shown in Fig. 1. After the head has been completely filled the pieces of corn can be stitched together, if desired, in the vicinity of the bands, as shown at G, to further prevent their working loose or being removed independently. The butts of the corn all bear evenly against the plate (1, forming a firm and compact mass within the head. Owing to the increased thickness of the head above its mouth the butts of the corn expand after passing the mouth, thereby securely holding them within the head against the possibility of removal under any ordinary use of the broom.

WVhen the straw becomes worn out by frequent use it can be easily removed and its place supplied with fresh straw. Thus the head may be made to last many years with ordinary care. If the straw should become loose from any cause it can be readily tightened by inserting single bunches in the head at the edges.

The bands I) are strengthened and supported by the central transverse plate H connecting them, as shown in Fig. 2, which plate also serves as a guide for inserting the straw and as a separatingplate to hold one-half the straw in place while the other half is being inserted.

Instead of using sin gle bands D two or more may be employed, arranged ashort distance apart. I prefer, however, the single bands, as they allow the corn to swell or project somewhat between their upper edges and the mouth of the head, thereby supplying additional means for holding the corn in place.

If the supports for the socket G are found insufficient short braces may be placed around the end of the socket, within the head, to further strengthen it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is The broom-head, consisting of the beveled case A provided with the arms F and one or more bands, D, and with the interior plate 0 supporting the socket B, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

THOMAS R. EVANS.

Witnesses VVM. B. WILEY, 

